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2010-07-01 09:09:24
Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband a legal
right for every citizen.
From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per
second) broadband connection.
Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015.
In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least 2Mbps to
all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a right in law.
The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunications companies will
be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a
minimum 1Mbps speed.
Broadband commitment
Speaking to the BBC, Finland's communication minister Suvi Linden explained the
thinking behind the legislation: "We considered the role of the internet in
Finns everyday life. Internet services are no longer just for entertainment.
"Finland has worked hard to develop an information society and a couple of
years ago we realised not everyone had access," she said.
It is believed up to 96% of the population are already online and that only
about 4,000 homes still need connecting to comply with the law.
In the UK internet penetration stands at 73%.
The British government has agreed to provide everyone with a minimum 2Mbps
broadband connection by 2012 but it is a commitment rather than a legally
binding ruling.
"The UK has a universal service obligation which means virtually all
communities will have broadband," said a spokesman for the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport.
Making broadband a legal right could have implications for countries that plan
tough action on illegal file-sharing.
Both the UK and France have said they may cut off or limit the internet
connections of people who persistently download music or films for free.
The Finnish government has adopted a more gentle approach.
"We will have a policy where operators will send letters to illegal
file-sharers but we are not planning on cutting off access," said Ms Linden.
A poll conducted for the BBC World Service earlier this year found that almost
four in five people around the world believed that access to the internet is a
fundamental right.